January 27, 2010

Do you have a passion for life? Do you even know what it means to feel passionate about life?

Often we are so stuck in our drab, day-to-day world of survival that we forget those things that make us feel truly alive. What makes you feel alive? Can you take a few minutes out of your busy day to think about it?

It all comes down to what brings you joy. Can you remember the last time you felt joy? If not, it’s time to seriously make over your life.

Let’s take a step back. So, you haven’t felt joy for a while, but when was the last time you felt enthusiasm? Still having a hard time remembering?

WAKE UP!! Yes, you heard me. You are sleepwalking through life. That’s not how it was meant to be lived. Wake up and smell every rose, dandelion, and whiff of car exhaust that enters your nostrils. Life is not just about tasting the good things in life. It’s about EXPERIENCING life. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. To feel truly passionate about life, you have to be and feel alive.

You have to tell yourself the truth when something doesn’t feel good to you. You can’t fool yourself, though you may be able to fool your friends and family for a while. If you aren’t feeling any enthusiasm for your life, there is a reason. It’s up to you to figure out the reason why. No one else can tell you. They may be able to point you in the right direction, but you may not be ready or willing to listen.

Once you have determined why you are feeling a lack of passion, you need to try to remember a time when you felt passionate about something–or someone. There must have been a time, if only in the distant past, when you felt that spark of excitement for life. Excitement is the first step towards passion. You feel that tiny spark of excitement and nurture it into a roaring flame of passion.

Once you start to feel the passion, find ways to keep it flowing to you. When you feel like that, why would you want to go back to feeling only half-alive? You won’t. And your passion and zest for life will be contagious. Those around you will see your spark and want to emulate you. Before you know it, having a passion for life will be back in style.

Don’t allow yourself to become one of those people who lives in constant fear. When you have troubles in your life, how do you react? Do you tend to lash out and blame others? Or do you take responsibility for your part in whatever is going on?

The truth is–drum roll please–you are completely responsible for how you view every moment of your life. You might perceive someone as being against you, but they have their own set of issues they are dealing with that have nothing whatsoever to do with you. They might have a hidden agenda or not. It doesn’t matter. You can choose to believe what you like, but wouldn’t you rather be happy and content with your life?

Even in your darkest hour, there is hope. When everything seems to fall apart around you, you need to get out of your mind and into the present moment. Be here now. Right now, everything is okay (in 99% of the cases). For that other 1% of the time, just breathe through it. You will come out the other side stronger than before you went through the trial.

We live this way for a reason. If we were all able to learn without facing hardship, do you think hardship would exist? I don’t mean to belittle anyone’s experiences, but, by choice, I have not watched news programs for several months. I found that I am much happier on a whole. When issues come up, I turn to friends who are able to help me through it. If you are constantly focused on negativity (as seems to be the case with most news programming), you tend to see the darker side of things. See the light. Focus on what you want to see more of.

Now, if you can see that you have some kind of problem, you can search within for a solution. Every problem has a solution. But, it’s more than just finding the solution to what ails you. You need to act on it. It’s too big, you say? You’re not sure where to start? Start somewhere. Start anywhere. Start with guided action. Once you determine a solution, you can come up with action steps that if completed will get you to the place you would like to be. I can’t stress this enough. You really need to ACT. Take the first step. And the second. And the third. Whatever you do, just keep on going.

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January 18, 2010

It might seem like something that doesn’t need to be stated, but if you’re tired, rest. Most of us just keep plugging along anyway–no matter how tired or run down we are feeling. The body gives you that feeling for a reason. Your body wants you to rest. There is a time for everything. The time to run a marathon is not when you are exhausted. You need to gradually build up your stamina.

If you decide to cook and work out at the gym and any one of a million other activities after your hard day at work, that is your choice. But do you have the energy? If the answer is no, go to bed early! There’s no harm in it and you may just feel better able to deal with your life the next morning. Sometimes you just feel so bone-weary that you may need several days or weeks of rest. For most people, it is not practical or possible to give up anything for that length of time. You might think that more time spent sleeping is less time available for everything else. While that might be true, the quality of what you end up doing will suffer if you fail to listen to your body. If you don’t listen for long enough, sickness results. So, to shortcut any adverse ramifications, when you’re tired–rest.

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January 16, 2010

What story do you want your life to tell? This is probably something that most of you haven’t given much thought to. Most of us just go through life, doing what is expected of us, without consideration for what we want or how our life is progressing.

Something you might want to do is map out the story of your life. You can tell the whole tale or any part thereof. You might want to start in the ‘second half’ of your life. Possibly, you might want to do a progression into the future to see where you want to be.

I’ve seen authors in places say that you should write out your obituary. I don’t necessarily think that’s necessary as it places too much negative emphasis on the whole project, although it does display a certain Scrooge-esque attitude. If you think that you are currently like Scrooge, then go write ahead and write your obituarly. For the rest of us, one thing you can do is start to write in a journal. As I stated earlier, you can start anywhere, go in any direction of time you like, be realistic or not. It’s all up to you. Just as your life is up to you.

It all comes back to choice. If, after starting this project, you don’t like where your life is currently heading, change something now. Don’t wait for your friends to join you. Don’t wait for someone to order you to change your life. You must be proactive in creating the life you want.

Most of us like to tell stories. You can start by telling your story as you see it. Your emotions are valid, even if family members or others have a different viewpoint, don’t feel as if you have to swallow your own story and keep it bottled up inside. Only you can tell the story of your life from your perspective. Other people may not understand your motives, but what is most important is whether or not you feel that you have lived your life well.

Would you be happy with the way your life turned out if you died today? The answer should be yes. Since your life is a work in progress, you should have no regrets. Leave nothing that you are guided to do undone. Make strides towards having your story turn out according to the progression story you wrote for yourself. It all starts with writing the story of your life.

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January 13, 2010

I’ve heard this message a lot lately: Be Here Now. It is something I tell myself whenever I feel that I am becoming lost in thought i.e. worry. Right here, now, there is nothing to worry about. If you live each moment as if it is the only moment–and it is–than life flows so much more smoothly.

When we choose to focus on the past, we fail to truly experience the Now. Yes, who we were has helped to make us who we are now, but does dwelling on this make our lives any better now? Most of the time, the answer will be a resounding “NO!” Yes, it is a good idea to take some time to examine your past to see why you have become the way you are, but once you’ve done that soul searching, it’s time to move on–to the Now.

We are given the capability to remember the past for a reason. If it wasn’t necessary, the universe would not have made it possible. Introspection is an important part of our psychology, but some people tend to get caught up in it. They want to examine it over and over. In fact, they like to ‘claim’ it as their own and wear it like a badge of honor. It becomes an issue of ego when people compare their pasts to see whose was the worst!

On the other end of the spectrum are the people who always have their eyes on the horizon. They live in the future. Some of these people are very happy. It keeps them going to see the beauty that can be in the future–even though they take no action towards making it a reality. Others use the future as an excuse to be discontent with the present–the Now. They use the future as an excuse to complain about all the wonderful things they don’t have right now. They fail to see the value in the present.

The really important message I want you to take away from this is to be true to yourself in the Now. Accept what you have. Accept yourself the way you are. Learn to live with things that are less than pleasing. But don’t live with blinders on. If something doesn’t please you, take action steps to change it. Your whole life should not become the action steps.

Meditation is the best way to Be Here Now. Go and take a walk out in nature, and when your thoughts intrude on your solitude–as they invariably will-just breathe: “Be Here Now.”

January 12, 2010

Everyone creates an impact. Just like everything is connected in some way, so are our actions connected. Do you inspire or push away those that surround you. By being positive in all your daily interactions, you cannot help but inspire those around you. They don’t need to know your name or what you do for a living. You give off a vibe that shows what you are really made of.

You may think that no one notices when you do something nice for someone. Whether a person notices or not, the energy around you has been altered. Many people react to the energy of the people around them without knowing what they are reacting to. They are blind in a world of unlimited expansion. They can’t see half of what’s actually there. If you only react to what appears on the surface, you will often be acting out of ignorance.

It is time to wake up and see what is actually around you. There’s no time for petty anger or other fleeting circumstances. Feel it briefly, then let it go. Be as a Buddhist. Learn non-attachment. Why become attached to things that are fleeting, anyway? Be mindful of how your actions can be interpreted on the surface. If you act from a place of love, than they will not be misinterpreted. Misinterpretation comes from our own internal confusion. When you aren’t attached to the outcome, confusion takes care of itself.

Get ready to go out there and start the new day with a positive outlook. Embrace the world with your positive energy. Allow yourself to feel the energy of others. Then, you will feel the connection. Others have an impact on you as you do on them. Change your attitude and change the world.

January 11, 2010

When people hear the word abundance, most think of money, a wallet full of cash, pre-paid debit cards, etc. Abundance is much more than money. In fact, it appears in a variety of ways, some not related to money in any form whatsoever.

Forms abundance can take:

For those who get bored easily, an abundance of work can make their hearts sing.

For those who feel rushed, getting a day off gives them an abundance of time to spend on themselves and family.

For those who have large bills, abundance can appear in the form of a reduction in money owed. This is actually quite common. It doesn’t usually happen by itself, though. You often have to come up with ways to reduce what you owe. For example, you can scale down your cable television or cell phone bill by only keeping the options you use often. If you don’t text all the time, then it doesn’t make sense to pay extra every month to have unlimited texting.

People can have an abundance of friends which is often more important than an abundance of money. Who can you always turn to when you need assistance? A true friend.

When you have food and a roof over your head and heat/air conditioning, you are blessed and abundant.

I’m sure that even in your darkest hour when you can’t see the abundance, someone else would notice something you possess that would raise your spirits if only you could see it. Really, abundance is all about your point of view. You can cultivate more abundance in your lfie by making an extra effort to notice it all around you.

Just remember, abundance can be as simple as finding a penny on the floor at the cash register when you are one penny short. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it will be given to you. Abundance is not only the fruit of your labor, it is the fruit of life.

January 10, 2010

Yesterday, I wrote about having hope and being open to new possibilities. Today, we need a little discussion on how to manifest your destiny. Once you determine what it is your desire is, it becomes a matter of manifestation.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the work of Esther and Jerry Hicks who channel Abraham, and if you haven’t heard of them specifically, you’ve definitely heard of the Law of Attraction (LOA). When working with LOA, it is very important to know exactly what you want because you will most definitely get it.

As an example, it is often easy to confuse an intermediate desire for the main desire of your life. You might say that you want to live in a certain area, in a certain type of home. You might want heat and air conditioning, a dishwasher, and a washer-dryer on the premises. You think that when you reach this goal that will be the pinnacle of your desire.

But what happens when you receive your desire? When it is only an intermediate desire, you are often dissatisfied when you achieve it. Have you ever wondered why?

It is because these intermediate desires might fulfill some of your needs, but they don’t contribute towards helping you reach your full potential. Do you have a desire to serve humanity in some way? Is this intermediate desire leading you closer to or further away from that goal?

To determine what your true desire is, and what will make you most happy in this life, you need to meditate. If you never allow yourself to have any quiet time, how can you truly tune in and know what you desire? Take the time. Think about what makes you happy. Have you stopped doing the things that make you happy in exchange for a paycheck? You don’t need to make yourself unhappy to be successful. Usually, that is a sign that you are not working towards your true desires but are in fact going against them.

When you have done the work and know what your true desire is, it should not be a trial to reach it. It will effortlessly come to you. That’s what LOA is about. Whatever you put your attention on, with true intention and desire, will manifest outwardly in the world. If you try and try and are unable to manifest what you think you desire, then it is not really what you want and know is for your highest good. With a little bit of effort in the beginning, you can manifest your desire easily in the end.

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Is it ever a good idea to give up hope? I don’t think so. Hope is allowing yourself to believe in something that does not exist in your reality. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist at all. It gives you a reason to go on when times appear to be especially bleak. The operative word here is APPEARS. Things often are not exactly as they appear to be. We each have our own spin on events. Two people could be standing right next to each other and witness the same event and come up with a completely different explanation.

I believe that hope is the last thing to go, so to speak. As long as we are alive, we are hopeful that things will turn out in our favor. Could you imagine how terrible it would be if there was absolutely no hope of having the one thing you wanted in your life–ever? I realize that sometimes this happens in “real life”. Someone will die, so you know you won’t be able to call them up on the telephone to talk whenever you want. But as far as your dreams for your own life go, there is always a world of possibilities and therefore hope.

Based on an observation of human life, I would say that some people give up on themselves as soon as they get some responsibilities. There are two main roads: get married or stay single. If you get married, you then usually have extremely large shared bills, such as mortgages. If you stay single, you might get a job right out of high school, and if it pays the bills, you might decide to stay there as long as you can because it provides health insurance. You could also go to college, in which case you might run up large student loans you’ll be paying off for the next 10 years. There are also car loans and other assorted bills that numb you to the reality of life.

So, reality is not your bills or your debt. Reality can be anything you want to make it. If you end up with bills, should you give up on your dreams and what you want to do with your life to be a slave to money? No. You should take control of your life (while still letting the energy flow) and allow whatever is best for you to come in. Most important of all, don’t let opportunities pass you by solely based on fear. When you are so bogged down in the so-called reality of your life, that’s the time when you should let hope shine through.

Have hope that something you can’t see right now can actually exist for you. Take one small step towards that ephemeral vision. Be positive, and let it in. When all else fails, try hope.

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January 8, 2010

Everyday we are given a choice. We can continue to do things the way we always have, or we can change everything. What most people don’t realize is that we have a choice.

At this time of year, many people make resolutions. They resolve to make huge changes in their lives and then give up when they don’t get instant results. They stay in jobs that don’t support them spiritually because they support them financially. They don’t make any efforts and expect things to come to them.

Every single day that you wake up you are given a choice. You can continue as you always have, or you can make one tiny change. Yes, you heard me right. Just one little thing is enough to let the universe know that you are serious about accepting and allowing change into your life. We are infinitely powerful spiritual beings who can begin improving the world by improving ourselves.

You can usher joy into your life with the new year. There is no need to stay with a partner who doesn’t suit you or harms you in any way. It is okay to be alone. If you are unhappy in your current position, you can begin to look for another job that is more in line with your values. If you’d like to lose weight, you can cut out one unhealthy food item and add one fruit or vegetable in its place. You don’t need to make a sudden drastic change–unless of course you are being guided to.

The most important thing to remember is to be true to yourself. You know when you are participating in activities that go against your personal beliefs. Now, today, this minute, is the time to come clean with yourself, to admit that you need a change, and to take responsibility for the choices you CAN make in your life.